Extension cord management device

ABSTRACT

A cord management device comprising a coiled spring member and at least one cord attachment member for securing a cord to be coupled to said spring member is disclosed. Spring members are fitted with ties which grasp the cord making the spring members and cord act simultaneously. When the inventive spring member is attached to a cord, it has the ability to stretch if desired and compress to create an organized configuration when not in use. The inventive device may be incorporated into an appliance or other device permanently, as well as being an attachment retrofitted onto an existing cord flexible or tubular conduit to provide an electrical conductor connection to another device or system, thus making it easy to manage a cord.

TECHNICAL FIELD

The invention relates to a device for managing cords or flexible tubularconduits, such as cords on appliances, information bearing cords such ascords on computer keyboards, computer mouse devices, and cords in theworkplace environment such as an office, hospital, factory or warehouse.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Today, numerous appliances and peripheral devices require an electricalconductor connection, optical connection, gas or liquid supply toanother device or system. These include cords for appliances which arepowered by, for example, ordinary house current, battery packs or thelike.

In addition, there are numerous cords commonly encountered in everydaylife, such as cords which are used to connect computer peripheraldevices, such as disk drives, keyboards, earphones, headphones, and soforth to computers. Still another class of cords carry otherinformational or power content. For example, cords comprising hollowflexible tubes convey air pressure to pneumatically powered tools orliquids to supply a fabrication process. Another example comprises cordswhich carry optical information, typically being made of fiber-opticbundles. For example, such devices may be used to convey imageinformation from one point to another.

Fiber-optic bundles may also be used to carry illumination. For example,some light sources comprise a main housing comprising a lamp and afiber-optic bundle used to output light onto a work piece. Yet anotherapplication involves the collection of sunlight, for example on the roofof a building, and sending that luminous energy to a room in thebuilding where it may be used to illuminate an object.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

In accordance with the invention, a device is provided for managing apower cord, or linear tubular conduit, for example, a cord carrying anyof the above energy or information or other inputs or outputs. It iscontemplated that the inventive device will be sold in differentlengths, and that the consumer will be able to trim a device to adesired length and/or select the desired length needed to match aparticular cord which the consumer wishes to manage.

A cord management device comprising a coiled spring member and at leastone cord attachment member for securing a cord to be coupled to saidspring member is disclosed. In one embodiment spring members are fittedwith adhesive for Velcro™-type hook and loop fasteners or other ties ofany configuration which grasp the cord making the spring members andcord act simultaneously. When the inventive spring member is attached toa cord, it has the ability to stretch if desired and compress to createan organized configuration when not in use. The inventive device may beincorporated into an appliance or other device permanently, as well asbeing an attachment retrofitted onto an existing cord in, for example,an appliance to provide an electrical conductor connection to anotherdevice or system, thus making it easy to manage a cord. The device canalso be detached from the power cord should it no longer be desired orif it has worn out or otherwise lost functionality. Advantageously, itmay be detached without damaging the cord or conduit to which it hadbeen connected.

The inventive cord management device is in one embodiment made of acoiled helical spring which may be attached to, for example, anappliance by any means such as adhesive, a hinge, a ball and socket, andso forth. The helical coil is attached to the cord by a plurality ofattachment members.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The operation of the invention will become apparent from the followingdescription taken in conjunction with the drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 is a side view illustrating a general implementation of thepresent invention;

FIG. 2 is a top view illustrating an exemplary embodiment of the methodas implemented according to the present invention in a cord managementsystem;

FIGS. 3-5 illustrate the cord grasping ties which are generallyrectangular or curved in shape and are provided with hooks on one endand loops at the other, and exhibit a preferred, but not required, lowprofile, and are secure and have double attachment system design;

FIG. 6 is a cross-sectional view illustrating the tying function of theloop and hook bearing ends;

FIG. 7 is a side view illustrating a suitable spring member useful inimplementing the apparatus of the present invention;

FIG. 8 is a top view illustrating a suitable spring member useful inimplementing the apparatus of the present invention;

FIG. 9 is an outstretched view illustrating the configuration of astretched spring member equipped with a cord;

FIG. 10 is a side view illustrating the compressed position of the cordwhen the cord is not in use;

FIG. 11 is a top view illustrating the compressed position of the cordwhen the cord is not in use;

FIG. 12 illustrates the inventive device installed on the back of anappliance;

FIG. 13 illustrates how the inventive device is secured and held inplace by two adhesive patches, on the back of an appliance;

FIG. 14 is an outstretched view illustrating the form of a permanentlyinstalled spring member on an extension cord;

FIG. 15 is a top view illustrating the form of a permanently installedspring member on an extension cord;

FIG. 16 is a side view illustrating the form of a permanently installedspring member on an extension cord;

FIG. 17 is a cross-sectional view illustrating the extension cord withextruded lips for engaging a spring member;

FIG. 18 is an outstretched view illustrating a USB cord having a pair ofUSB connectors;

FIG. 19 is a side view illustrating the inventive device suspended froma ceiling;

FIG. 20 is an outstretched view illustrating the inventive devicesuspended from a ceiling;

FIG. 21 is an outstretched view illustrating the inventive device usedin conjunction with a computer headset;

FIG. 22 illustrates an outstretched view of a preferred embodiment of acord organizer;

FIG. 23 is a cross-sectional view illustrating the tape membercomprising a planar tape;

FIGS. 24-26 are cross-sectional views illustrating the inventive cordorganizer secured on an appliance by spring member securement and a cordsecurement;

FIG. 26 is a cross-sectional view illustrating an adhesive cordsecurement during use;

FIG. 27 is a cross-sectional view illustrating an alternative inventiveembodiment with a cord inside a silicon rubber grooved cord organizer;

FIG. 28 is a top view of the inventive organizer with an adhesive “foot”for attachment to a computer;

FIG. 29 is a view of the silicone rubber covering and wire fullyenveloping the electrical cord with the path of an inner metal wire coilindicated in phantom lines;

FIG. 30 is a cross-sectional, outer view of the silicone rubber coveringenveloping the electrical cord and wire coil.

FIG. 31 is a top plan view of an alternative embodiment of the inventivecord organizer;

FIG. 32 is a cross-sectional view along lines 32-32 of FIG. 31;

FIG. 33 is a side view illustrating an enlarged view of a coiled cordinside the coil housing.

FIG. 34 is a side view illustrating an enlarged view of a coiled cordinside the coil housing.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

Turning to FIGS. 1 and 2, the inventive cord manager 10 is illustrated.Cord manager 10 comprises a spring member 12. Spring member 12 may bemade of a suitable material, such as spring metal or plastic?. However,metal has the advantage of being rugged and thus having a longer lifeexpectancy. Spring member 12, may come in a wide variety of dimensions,however, in accordance with a preferred embodiment, it as a thickness 14on the order of the same or less than the power cord or conduit, butcould also be thicker if so desired. In accordance with one preferredembodiment of the invention, spring member 12 may be on the order ofthree inches in diameter.

Spring member 12 is fitted with a number of cord grasping ties 18. Asillustrated in FIGS. 3-5, cord grasping ties 18 are generallyrectangular in shape. Ties 18 are provided with hooks 20 at one end andloops 22 at the other end. Hooks 20 are adapted to mate with loops 22 inorder to secure opposite ends of ties 18 to each other. In accordancewith the invention, ties 18 may be spaced at about 3 inches with respectto each other along substantially the entire length of spring member 12.Of course, larger intervals of spacing between ties 18 are possible asare smaller ones, with larger intervals being more practical for largerdiameters of spring member 12. Ties 18 are also provided with a patch ofadhesive 24.

Referring to FIG. 6, the tying function of ties 18 is most clearlyillustrated. Generally, ties 18 are adhered to spring member 12 byadhesive 24. Loop bearing end 26 extends around, for example, a powercord 28 exposing its loops 22. Hook bearing end 30 extends over end 26with its hooks 20 facing loops 22. Because hooks 20 are pressed intoengagement with loops 22, ends 26 and 30 adhere to each other and firmlygrasp cord 28, thus holding it to spring member 12, and causing thespring member 12 and cord 28 to act as a single spring member.

Referring to FIGS. 7 and 8, a suitable spring member 12 useful inimplementing the apparatus of the present invention is illustrated. Sucha spring member 12 may be stretched out as illustrated in FIG. 9. Whensuch a spring member is equipped with a power cord, and then stretchedout, the power cord 28 takes the configuration illustrated in FIG. 9 inphantom lines.

Referring to FIGS. 10 and 11, attachment of the power cord 28 to springmember 12 result in slight expansion of spring 12. Thus, when a cord isnot in use, it is organized and occupies a minimal volume. The strengthof spring 12 may be varied to be so strong that it can carry the weightof, for example, power cord 28 and pull it into a compressed condition.Alternatively, spring 12 may be of relatively weak strength and merelyrespond to maintain the cord in an organized configuration with a degreeof compression and in a configuration into which it is put by the user.Such a weak spring may be commensurate with the force exerted by aspring having a spring constant similar to that of a commercial toyproduct known as a “Slinky” (trademark).

Referring to FIG. 12, the inventive extension cord management device 110may be installed on the back of an appliance 132 to manage the powercord 128 with which the appliance was sold. The inventive device 110 maybe held in position by a first adhesive patch 134 which secures thepower cord 128 in a flat position while at the same time securing thebottom of the inventive device 110. A second adhesive member 136 securesthe opposite end of the base of the inventive device 110, as illustratedmost clearly in FIG. 13. The appliance cord 128 is managed by a springmember 112. When a user grasps the plug 138 and pulls out cord 128, thesame is maintained and close relationship to spring member 112. When theuser releases his grip on plug 138, spring member 112 pulls the cordinto the compressed position illustrated in FIG. 12 and, as can be seenfrom FIG. 10, it maintains an orderly configuration. On the other hand,if plug 138 has been secured in a wall socket in order to provide powerto appliance 132, the cord will stay in the outstretched positionillustrated, for example, in FIG. 13.

The inventive device may take the form of a permanently installed springmember 212 on an extension cord 214, as illustrated in FIGS. 14-16. Inthis case, ties 18 may be replaced by a layer of glue 218. Extensioncord 214 includes a plug 240 and a socket 242.

Alternatively, an extension cord 314 may be extruded with lips 344 and346 for engaging a spring member 312, as illustrated in thecross-sectional view of FIG. 17.

In principle, the inventive system may be installed under a desktop. Forexample, as illustrated in FIG. 18, a USB cord 414, having a pair of USBconnectors 415 and 417 may be secured by adhesive member 419 under adesktop 421 or screws. Connector 415 may be coupled to a computersitting on the desktop. Connector 417 may be coupled, for example, to ahandheld communicating device.

It is also contemplated in accordance with the present invention thatthe inventive device may be suspended from ceilings, such as ceiling 511illustrated in FIGS. 19 and 20. In this embodiment, an extension cord514 incorporating a spring member 512 is secured by any suitablefastener 512 to a support plate 523 associated with an electricalsocket, which in turn is secured to the ceiling, or more customarily, tothe metal box containing the electrical socket, by screws 525. Thisextension cord also includes a plug 540 and socket 542. Plug 540 goesinto the electrical socket, as illustrated, and socket 542 is availableto be connected to a tool, appliance or other device.

It is also contemplated that the present invention may be used toimplement and easily manage the cord to be used with a computer mouse.Because of the relatively large diameter of the inventive cord manager,it is practical to use the same in many applications not suitable forconventional coiled cords, such as those used on telephone headsets.More critically, in accordance with the present invention, it iscontemplated that cord diameters may be in excess of 5 cm, and as largeas 25 cm or larger.

The inventive device will also work well with a computer keyboard.

Likewise, in accordance with the present invention, the stiff nature ofthe spring member helps to manage the cord. In accordance with thepresent invention, coil diameters which result in a coil length, in thecompressed state, such as that illustrated in FIG. 10, which is of thesame order of magnitude as the diameter of the coil, are particularlyvaluable as the same are relatively compact. For example, if thediameter of the coil equals the height of the coil the use of space isminimized. However, if the height of the coiled managed cord is aboutone third of the diameter of the coiled cord, the same is a neat packagewhich allows good management while minimizing space consumed. This is incontrast to a conventional telephone cord which may be 50 times longerthan the diameter of the coil which forms the cord. In accordance withthe invention, ratios of coil length to coil diameter in the rangebetween 3:1 and 1:6 are particularly advantageous. Ratios in the rangebetween numeral 1:1 and 1:5 are particularly preferred. More especiallypreferred ratios for aesthetic reasons range between 5:1 to 1:2.

In accordance with the invention, it is anticipated that the varioustools used at a construction site, such as drills, power saws, powerscrewdrivers and the like may be outfitted with the inventive cordmanager. Thus, an individual working at the site, who may besimultaneously using several tools, such as a power drill, powerscrewdriver and saw can conveniently and without the cords interferingwith each other, switch from one tool to another to efficiently completea task.

In the same manner as illustrated in FIGS. 19 and 20 with respect to aceiling outlet, the inventive device may be applied to a wall outlet.

Likewise, the inventive system may be used in conjunction with atelephone or other similar device.

Referring to FIG. 21, the inventive system may be used in conjunctionwith a computer headset 650 which includes a pair of earphones 652 and amicrophone 654 and a loose section of cord 656 is coupled to the end 658of a spring member by a tie 618 which secures cord 656 to a springmember. The end of the cord opposite computer headset 650 is coupled toa USB connector 660.

Referring to FIG. 22, a particularly preferred embodiment of a cordorganizer 710 is illustrated. Cord organizer 710 comprises a springmember 712 which may be made of plastic and which has a spring constantand mass similar to that of a plastic Slinky (trademark) toy. Aplurality of tape members 718 are positioned along the length of springmember 712.

As illustrated in FIG. 23, tape member 718 comprises a planar tape 719made of any suitable flexible tape material and is provided with a layerof adhesive 721. Layer of adhesive 721 is protected by a release membercomprising a paper backing 723 and a layer of release material 725. Eachrelease member 727 protects a respective one of the ends of tape member718.

Referring to FIGS. 24-26, an appliance 732 may be fitted with theinventive cord organizer 710 through the use of a spring membersecurement 733 and a cord securement 735. Cord securement 735 comprisesa hook carrying fabric coupling member 737 secured to the back ofappliance 732 by adhesive layer 739. The cord 728 is laid over the faceof hook varying member 737 and held in place by a patch of material 741pairing loop coupling members 743, as illustrated in FIG. 22 and asillustrated in cross-section in FIG. 24.

With reference to FIGS. 24 and 25, end 745 of spring member 712 issecured in a similar fashion. More particularly, a hook bearing patch747 secured to the back of appliance 732 by an adhesive layer 749underlies end 745 of spring member 712. End 745 of spring member 712 issecured between a pair of fabric members. The first fabric member is aloop bearing patch 751. Patch 751 includes an adhesive layer 753.Adhesive layer 753 faces at another adhesive layer 755 which underlies afabric member 757. End 745 of spring member 720 is locked into positionbearing against the back of appliance 732 by placing end 745 over themiddle of patch 747 and engaging the loops on patch 751 with the hookson patch 747.

The above structure allows cord 728 and spring member 712 to beattached, detached and reattached many times by the use of the hook andloop connectors.

When it is desired to use the inventive system, hook carrying fabriccoupling member 737 is put in place on the housing of appliance 732 in aposition in which it will underlie loop bearing patch 741. Cord 728 isthen laid over the hook varying surface of fabric coupling member 737,preferably in the middle of said service, and patch 741 is placed overcord 720 to lock cord 728 into position. The result is that cord 728assumes a direction substantially parallel to the rear surface ofappliance 732, feeding it in a direction toward the base of springmember 712 which is secured to the back of appliance 732.

One then secures the end 745 of spring member 720 which is locked intoposition bearing against the back of appliance 732 by placing end 745over the middle of patch 747 and engaging the loops on patch 751 withthe hooks on patch 747.

Next, adhesive protective release member 727 are removed from each tapemember 718 and secured around cord 728, in sequence, as the cord iswrapped against spring member 712. Each time an adhesive protectiverelease member 727 is removed, it is wrapped around cord 728, asillustrated in FIG. 26.

Yet another alternative embodiment of the present invention isschematically illustrated in cross-section FIG. 27. In this embodiment,the inventive cord organizer 810 takes the form of a plastic, forexample silicone rubber, covering 811. The same may be made in variouscolors, with glitter, or the like. Silicon rubber covering 811 isequipped with an internal groove 814 formed by a pair of lips 815.Groove 814 serves to house and support, for example, an electrical cord812. Together the silicone rubber covering 811, internal groove 814 andwire coil 820 shape and envelope electrical cord 812 such that it isretained in the cord organizer 810.

In accordance with the invention, an adhesive foot 816 may be positionedat an end of the silicone rubber covering 811 which serves to attach thecord to for example a computer or device. FIG. 28 illustrates adhesivefoot 816 on one end of the silicone rubber covering 811. At the otherend, a computer mouse 824 or other computer input device is attached tocord organizer 810.

While enveloped in the silicone rubber covering 810, the electrical cord812 is maintained in a desired organized configuration. While this canbe achieved by making the covering 811 of a suitable springy material,the possibility also exist to incorporate a springy member 820 whichfollows a path 818, as illustrated in FIG. 29. Springy member 820 thusforms an inner metal wire coil 820. Inner metal wire coil 820 can bemade of various types of metal, as well as plastic, for example aplastic significantly stiffer than the rubbery material of whichcovering 811 is made, etc., and forms the shape and structure of thedevice as illustrated by FIG. 29.

As illustrated in FIG. 30, instead of being positioned on the inside ofthe coil formed by the cord organizer, a cord organizer 910 may have itslips 915 positioned on the outside of the coil to provide for thegrasping of electrical cord 912.

Still yet another alternative for the placement of the groove in a cordsimilar to those illustrated in FIGS. 27-29 is illustrated in FIGS. 31and 32. In this embodiment, the groove 1014 is not either on the insideor the outside of the helical coil formed by the inventive cordorganizer 1010, but in between. If this embodiment, lips 1015 are hiddenwithin the coil, thus giving a pleasant aesthetic appearance. At thesame time, placement of electrical cord 1012 is facilitated by pressingthe same into groove 1014 in between the thumb and index finger withoutundue interference from adjacent coils of the cord organizer which needonly be minimally displaced during installation of the electrical cordinto the cord organizer.

Referring to FIGS. 33 and 34, coil housing 1122, is an additionalcomponent which consists of, for example, a cylindrical shape housingwhich holds the electrical cord 1112 in place when not extended. Theopening 1113 of the coil housing 1122 is desirably slightly larger thanthe diameter of the organizer coil 1110 when it compresses electricalcord 1120 into a coiled position, as illustrated in FIG. 34. Thefunction of housing 1122 is to assist in keeping electrical cord 1120coiled while maintaining aesthetic appearance. The same is achieved byproviding a measure of vertical support. The coil housing 1122 isoptionally adhered to an appliance 1126. The electrical cord 1120 withthe cord organizer 1110 can be positioned inside the coil housing 1122as shown in FIG. 34 or outside the coil housing 1122 as illustrated inFIG. 33. FIGS. 33 and 34 illustrate an expanded configuration of theelectrical cord 1120 while extended from the coil housing 1122 and whilecoiled inside the coil housing 1122, respectively.

1. A cord management device, comprising: (a) a coiled spring member; and(b) at least one cord attachment member for securing a cord to becoupled to said spring member.
 2. A cord management device as in claim1, further comprising (a) an attachment member for attaching said cordmanagement device to an object.
 3. A cord management device as in claim1, wherein said coil spring is made of plasticmetal or rubber, orcombination thereof.
 4. A cord management device as in claim 1, whereinsaid tie is a planar member with mating hook members on one side andmating loop members on the other side.
 5. A cord management device as inclaim 1, wherein the ratio of coil length to coil diameter is in therange between 3:1 and 1:6.
 6. A cord management device as in claim 1,wherein the ratio of coil length to coil diameter is in the rangebetween 1:1 and 1:5.
 7. A cord management device as in claim 1, whereinthe ratio of coil length to coil diameter and is in the range between0.5:1 and 1:2.
 8. In cord management device as in claim 1, wherein saidcord attachment member is a tie.
 9. A device incorporating a cord andthe cord management device as in claim 1, wherein said cord attachmentmember is a gluing member extending along the length of said coil springmember and said cord.
 10. A device incorporating the cord managementdevice of claim 1 and a cord secured to said cord management device,wherein said cord is a pneumatic or tubular liquid or gas supply conduitcord.
 11. A device incorporating the cord management device of claim 1and a cord secured to said cord management device, wherein said cord isa fiber optical cord.
 12. A cord management device, comprising aflexible resilient coiled member having a coil shape and having a groovedisposed along to its length, said groove being defined by a pair offlexible lips, said groove being dimensioned to receive and retrain acord to be managed, and said coiled member being resilient enough toreturn itself and a retained cord to its compressed coil shape afterbeing pulled into an extended coil shape.
 13. A cord management deviceas in claim 12, wherein said flexible resilient coiled member is made ofa rubbery material and includes an internal spring made from a materialselected from the group consisting of metal and plastic.
 14. A cordmanagement device as in claim 12, wherein said groove is positioned onthe outside of the coil.
 15. A cord management device as in claim 12,wherein said groove is positioned on the inside of the coil.
 16. A cordmanagement device as in claim 12, wherein said groove is positionedbetween the inside and the outside of the coil.
 17. A device as in claim16, wherein the cord is an electrical, optical or pneumatic cord.
 18. Acord management device as in claim 16, wherein said flexible resilientcoiled member is made of a rubbery material and includes an internalspring made from a material selected from the group consisting of metaland plastic.
 19. A device as in claim 18, wherein said lips extendtoward each other to define at least a partial closure over said groove.